Skip Soy – Not All It’s Cracked Up to Be – Especially if You Are Preggo

We talk a lot about not using face and body care products containing ingredients that could inadvertently poison your baby (e.g. Accutane). Today we want to bring in another level of awareness – that which may not harm baby, but is not doing your skin any favors nevertheless. Do yourself a huge favor and skip soy based ingredients in your skin care products while you are pregnant.

Soy is considered by many to be a more natural “organic” ingredient. While we understand this attraction to skin products containing soy-derived ingredients – soy can have undesirable effects on your skin. Some experts claim soy is safe or no harm to your baby. Even so, we do not recommend it.

Soy-based lotions and facial products are generally safe to use, however can have a worsening effect on the infamous “mask of pregnancy” (melasma). The mask manifests as dark splotches on your face, especially around your cheeks and nose and is quite common.

Soy’s Estrogenic Effects

Soy has estrogenic effects, which means it mimics your body’s already exploding production of estrogen. It can act as a catalyst to darken unwanted patches on your face and body, also known as melasma or chloasma. Editor’s Note: Some products lines contain ‘active soy’. This just means the estrogenic components are taken out of the compound. If you are not allergic to soy, the ingredient active soy is probably okay.

Currently a nice array of pregnancy safe skin care products exists on the market so you have choices. We recommend choosing skin care products free of soy while pregnant – skip Soy. It does not seem worth the risk of having dark splotches on your face when there are ways to avoid it.

Dark Under Eye Circles? Exacerbates Your Melasma? No Thanks!

By choosing to pass on soy based ingredients in your skin care, you reduce the odds of making dark circles on your face worse.

You can learn about what ingredients are healthy for you while pregnant by visiting Amalou Skin’s pregnancy safe Ingredients page. Each ingredient included in this line of pregnancy safe skin care products was carefully selected. The company only include all-natural, non-toxic, green ingredients in their product line. Their goal is to give expecting mothers and beyond a skin care regimen they can trust. So even if you skip soy, you still have excellent, possibly even much better, options!

We wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!

Thanks for reading and if you found this article interesting or helpful, please like and share!

Prеvеntіоn or at least minimizing is trulу thе best mеdісіnе whеn іt соmеѕ tо dealing with these irritating lines. Some people may view them as a badge of honor in your аbіlіtу to саrrу a сhіld. However, mоѕt wоmеn рrеfеr tо аvоіd thеm аll tоgеthеr. Thе bеѕt tіmе tо ѕtаrt prevention іѕ аѕ ѕооn аѕ уоu knоw you´re pregnant, long before thе skin starts expanding. Your strategy? Hydrate (drink water) and moisturize. Not just any moisturizer will do, however.

Types of Skin Care Products for Pregnancy Stretch Mark Prevention

Daily application of the right moisturizer will help you рrеvеnt ѕtrеtсh mаrkѕ. At the same time, уоu will рrоmоte softer, mоrе hydrated ѕkіn. Your best option, if you can swing it, is to use 100% Orgаnіс or All Natural ѕkіn рrоduсtѕ. Many сhеmісаlѕ commonly found in skin care products аrе not proven ѕаfе fоr your unbоrn baby. Again, your best strategy here is avoidance. Going Organic or fully Natural wіll lend some реасе оf mind. You can treat уоur skin wіthоut worrying about negatively affecting your bun in the oven. Also, Organic and Natural skіn рrоduсtѕ can be juѕt as, if not more so, effective than conventional brands. You will find nаturаl and/or Organic ingredients sооthе аnd ѕоftеn your skin amazingly well. Editors Note: Organic and Natural do not necessarily mean the same thing.

Whаt tо Lооk fоr in Stretch Mаrk Prevention Trеаtmеntѕ

As previously mentioned, use products that are either Organic or fully Natural. By daily moisturizing уоur skin you еnhаnсе its еlаѕtісіtу. A gооd stretch mark рrеvеntіоn cream wіll аlѕо lend ѕоmе healing power to existing tears or scars, and prevent them from getting worse.

In terms of body lotion and belly butters, some of the best ingredients to look for on the label are listed below. In most cases, you can use any of these “ingredients” “straight up” on their own.

Almond Oil: Dubbed the “Queen” of oils, almond oil has superior hydrating and moisturizing abilities and does not clog pores. It has anti-aging properties. You can also use it as a natural makeup remover. Because the oil is so gentle even those with sensitive skin can use it.

Argan Oil: can help prevent stretch marks because it improves skin elasticity. The oil is rich in vitamin A and vitamin E which both helps both rejuvenate and moisturize your skin, making these annoying marks less likely to form.

Let’s Talk About Melasma Skin Care

Are you experiencing a worsening of melasma conditions now that you are pregnant? We know how you feel! This condition can be so disappointing and frustrating! We get it – your body is expressing the chemical changes happening within in odd ways. Fortunately, there is a solution – melasma skin care that actually works!

Where’s My Pregnancy Glow?

We have all heard the old wives tale about pregnant women seeming to have a “pregnancy glow”. It turns out, the concept of the pregnancy glow has strong biological bases. A pregnant mother’s complexion changes due to chemical reactions taking place internally in the mother to be during pregnancy. An increased volume of blood and circulation results in the cheeks taking on an attractive blush, due to the numerous blood vessels just below the surface. In addition to this redness of the skin, increased secretions of the oil glands give the skin a waxy sheen. These changes in complexion are similar to those that non-pregnant people experience when their heart rate increases dramatically.

Unfortunately, pregnancy can often cause several other changes to the mother’s complexion which are not as desirable including: pimply eruptions, heat rashes, skin tags, spider veins, red palms and soles, and dark areas on the face appearing larger and darker, described as “Melasma” or Chlosma.

Nearly 50% of pregnant women experience at least minor signs of melasma which is often referred to as the mask of pregnancy. Melasma’s symptoms include brownish or yellowish patches which appear most commonly on the forehead, upper cheeks, nose, and chin. Brunettes and women with a darker skin complexion may also notice darkened circles, resembling eye shadow, around their eyes.

When Does Melasma Start During Pregnancy?

These symptoms most often occur during the second trimester and are a direct result of increase pigmentation due to your body producing an abundance of hormones. The pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone stimulate the melanin cells in the skin to produce more pigment, yet because these cells do not produce extra pigment uniformly, your facial skin may acquire a change that resembles a blotchy tan. The symptoms of melasma are most common to the hormonal effects which often occur due to the consumption of oral contraceptives.

Tips to Prevent Melasma

In order to prevent or reverse melasma, here are some tips:

Try your best to avoid exposure to the sun since your skin is extra sensitive while pregnant. The sun increases your chances of these dark spots showing up on your face. If you have to go outside, wear a good, natural/organic sunscreen and a hat to guard your face. We would like you to approach melasma skin care with care. Many skin creams and ointments contain chemicals which can be potential harmful to your developing baby. Always consult a physician or midwife before applying any skin treatment solutions.

Drink sufficient, pure water throughout the day. We recommend drinking water on almost every blog post because it’s importance cannot be overstated! We all need to be reminded to drink clean, pure water throughout the day because most of us forget.

Use a Pregnancy Conscious skin care line like Amalou Skin. Two moms who experienced skin issues like acne and melasma during pregnancy created these products. When they couldn’t find maternity safe treatment products on the market, they decided to do something about it.

Melasma Skin Care Designed for Expecting Moms

The founders created Amalou Skin based on personal experience. Being unable to find a pregnancy safe face care regimen heightened their awareness of ingredient-safety. They put that knowledge into action with a team of experts who helped them create the first full line of maternity safe facial skin care products. Amalou Skin helps women look and feel more beautiful, pregnant or not.

When used together, the line of pregnancy safe products composes an effective skin-clearing regimen. Customers have peace of mind using Amalou Skin because the products contain none of the usual acne or melasma-fighting ingredients. Commercial facial care products often contain ingredients which are contra-indicated during pregnancy. Amalou Skin contains no benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retinoids, hydroquonine, parabens, phlalates, sulfates, or fragrance. Your skin will be clean and hydrated and the appearance of blemishes and discoloration will start to fade away with daily use.

Natural Skin Care Regimen for Pregnant Women

The Amalou Skin product line contains azelaic acid which may help reduce the appearance of facial discoloration with regular use. If you suffer from melasma, to prevent the condition from worsening you must follow ALL of the tips above. You will want to avoid the sun, cover up with a hat if you go outside, and wear enough (healthy) sunscreen at all times.

Our products were developed with the help of industry experts including cosmetic chemists, dermatologist & OBGYNs. We developed our formulation in compliance with independent environmental and consumer advocacy groups. An independent, FDA registered laboratory industry-standard tests our products. Dermatologists test the products for any allergic indications. Amalou Skin is proud to offer hypoallergenic skin care.

Ultimate Face Moisturizer: Avocado Honey Yogurt Mask

St. Patty’s Day has us eyeing spring, but we’re not done with winter just yet. Dry, cold air can wreak havoc on the loveliest of faces. To combat irritated winter skin you need to moisturize. A great way to do that is to use a hydrating mask once a week. Even acne-prone skin needs moisture, as dry, flakey skin can actually lead to more breakouts. If you’re pregnant, you may actually be experiencing both issues at once. If so, than this DIY avocado honey green mask is perfect for you.

Whip up an Avocado-Yogurt-Honey Mask. It is easy and chock full of blemish fighting but nourishing, moisture-rich ingredients. Avocado hydrates your skin with healthy unsaturated fat without clogging pores. It also brightens dull skin and sooths inflammation with Vitamins E, C, and B vitamins. Yogurt also adds moisture while combating acne-prone skin with lactic acid (a natural exfoliant). Honey is a natural humectant that contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

You need:

1/4 Ripe avocado

1 Teaspoon of plain organic yogurt

1/2 Teaspoon of honey

Wash and pit avocado. Mash up or put in the blender. Stir in yogurt and honey until you create a paste-like substance without lumps. Apply the your green avocado honey yogurt mask to your face for 10-15 minutes or until dry. Wash off with warm water. Feel the Glow!

Postpartum Depression Help

Still Fighting Winter Blues? Any woman who has experienced postpartum depression knows dealing with it during the winter months can amplify the symptoms. In today’s post, we want to share a few tips we think you should try to help you combat the Winter Blues. Unfortunately, many of us in the Northeast must face long and cold winters. Try these suggestions and see if you notice any improvement.

1. Get Sunshine: Bundle up and go for a walk outside. This will also get you out in nature which is a good thing. As Spring approaches, you can start to see that some tree buds are fighting their way through, some grass patches are starting to show, and Spring is just around the corner.

2. Get Moving: Join a new exercise class like prenatal yoga or swimming or just follow step number one above.

3. Join Interest Groups: Isolation can be depressing. Make an effort to meet up with some friends for tea at Starbucks or brunch or just pick up the phone and call someone. Check out a local MeetUp.com group, or start one of your own. Meet Up has a huge range of interest groups, from knitting to speaking another language (parle vous francais?) to film lovers.

Lastly, please come back and let us know how you’re fighting the winter blues! Got any tips we can share with our readers? We would love to hear some good suggestions back from our readers. Finally, if you know a new mama struggling with postpartum depression, please share this post with her.

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